Device for practicing golf



Sept; 7, 1948. s, ER 2,448,904

' DEVICE FOR PRACTICING GOLF Filed March :51, 1945 Q Patented Sept. 7, 1948 um TED STAT Es PAT oFFm-E.

' 2,44s,904 p DEVICE FOR.- PRAOTlGINGGOLR Samuel Alexander-Millner, Jacksonville, Fla.

Application March- 31-, 1945, Serial- No. 585,839

3 Claims.

This inventionrelates the device for practicing golf;

An object ofv the invention is the provisionof a device adapted to be connected to the head of a golf clubandsuspendedfrom a support located sufficiently above the floor-so'that when the golfer swings the club said device will guide the head of the club through substantially a circle insimulation of the proper stroke for driving a golf ball.

Another object of the inventio-nis the provision of a vertically disposed rod suspended from a support. with the rod acting as the radius of a, circle through which the head of the golf club is directed when the club is swung, said rodhaving a universaljoint connection with the support and headiwiththe head of the golf club.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device for teaching an embryo the proper method, of directing the head of a golf club. through a circular path and also, for directing the head of. the golf club through a pre-determined arcuate path during the putting operation, said device including a pair of alined rods suspended by. a support with the adjacent ends of the alined rods being pivotally connected togetherwith means for rendering the pivotal connection inoperative so that the combined rods act as a radial sup-port for a golf club head or the lowermost rod may be employed for directing the movement of the golf head.

A further objectof the invention is the provision of a device for teaching the proper path through which a golf club is to be directed, said device including a vertically disposed rod having a universal joint connection at a point in a horizontal plane which passes through the shoulders of the player, the lower end of the rod having means for removably connecting the head of the olf club to the lower end of the rod so that when the operator swings the golf club, the head will be forced to pass through a circular path, the connections to the support and to the golf head being of the universal joint type.

This invention will be best understood froma consideration of the following detailed description, in view of the accompanying drawings form ing a part of the specification; nevertheless, it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications as define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view in elevation of a device as shown at I1.

2 for aiding. and. directing the proper path of -the head of a golf-club.

Fig; 2 is a sideview in elevation of the device, Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side View.

which is at right angles to the viewshown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side. View partly in section ofthe universal connectionpbetween a support and a suspended supporting rod.

Referring more particularly, to the drawings,

lil designates a standardor post which is rigidly.

secured in the ground or in the. floor H? of. a. building. The standard is of suchv a height that a horizontal support l2 willbe in a plane passing substantiallylthrough the shoulders of a player.

The support I2 is' in the form of a bar orv rod secured. to a base member l3 which is connected. in any approved manner as by screws I l-ta the outer face of-the standard. Theouter end of: the rod. i2 is externally threaded as shown at l5 and upon. which. is screwed a cap L6. The outer end of the cap is provided with a central passage A pin 20: is received by the openingv H in the cap l6 and is provided with a. head 2! located within the cap and between the inner face of said cap and the outer end of the rod l2. In other words, the pin 20 swivels in the cap l6 for. rotation in either direction. The outer end of the rod 281 is in the shape of a fiat circular disk 22.

A yoke 25 is pivotally mounted on a pin 26 mounted in a perforation in the disk 22. This pin or bolt has a head 21 at one end and a nut 28 threaded on to the other end. This suspension permits the yoke to swing in a vertical plane and also to swing in a second vertical plane which is at right angles to the first mentioned vertical plane. In other WOI'd-S, the pin at with its pivotal and rockable connections forms a universal joint so that a rod 31! suspended from the yoke25 will have a universal Inountingon the outer end of the support [2.

The rod 30 has its upper end inserted through the passage 3| in the lower end of the yoke 25. A washer "32 is received by the upper end of the rod 3U below a cotter pin 33 received by a passage in the upper end of the rod. A second cotter pin 34 is received by a passage in the rod 30 below the lower end of the yoke 25 for securing the upper end of the rod in the yoke.

The lower end of the rod 30 has a pivotal connection as shown at 3'5 with the upper end of an auxiliary rod 36 which isin alinement with the inoperative position. When the sleeve 31 is in its lowermost position, it will act to retain the rods 39 and 36 in vertical alinement; and these rods will swin as a single unit at that time. Otherwise, when the sleeve is in its upper position, the auxiliary rod 36 can be rockedon the pivot 35 independently of the rod 39.

the arms of the player will move during a complete stroke. In other words, the head 40 of the golf club will be directed through a path for driving the ball, for the perfect back swing and for an efficient follow-through.

0n the other hand, the sleeve 31 may be raised to permit swingin movement of the auxiliary rod 36 for practicing a chip shot or for putting, thereby providing an easy back wrist swing/and a follow-through. In other words, the golf clubwill be guided through the proper circle Or are and such practice will be continued until the player has become sufficiently proficient to practice in the open;

A head 49 of a golf club 4| has an internally threaded passage 42 at its forward end, generally designated as the toe of the club head, which receives a threaded bolt 43 forming part of a member 44 of a universaljoint. The other element 4'5 of the universal joint as shown in Fig, 2 is secured to the lower end 46 ofthe auxiliary rod 36. Thus, it will be seen that the head 49 of the golf club 4! has a universal joint connection with the lower end of the rod 36. Moreover, the attachment of the toe of the club head to the stroke practicing instrument is particularly important in aiding the player in learning how to develop wrist action in coordination with his down swing so that the face of the club head closes properly at the point of impact with the ball and follows through on the desired line of flight of the ball. The rear side of the club head which is in line with the shaft is termed the heel and a player omitting the proper wrist action will on certain shots either allow this heel to lead the toe in one instance or to followthe toe. In either case the face of the club head at the moment of impact with the ball will be at an angle to the intended line of flight of the ball creating either a so-called sliced or a hooked ball. The toe connection it will be seen is at a distance from the club shaft equal to the length of the head and therefore creates a resistance tending to prevent the player, as the club head approaches the bottom of the swing from allowing the shaft to twist in his hands to create a slice, or from exerting a so-called crossing over or rollingmovement of the wrists thus causing a hook. The follow-through may therefore be performed with the face of the club head at right angles to the desired line of flight of the ball from the instant of contact with the ball until well after the ball has gathered momentum and passed away from the club face.

The threaded bolt 43 is employed in connection with the heads of gOlf clubs of the driver type. On the other hand, where the irons are employed, the bolt 43 may be replaced by a clamp which is removably secured to the outer free end or toe of the head of the iron or as desired the bolt 43 may be threaded into an opening in the iron.

It will be noted from this construction that the support I2 is so positioned that it will be approximately at the center of a circle through which I claim: n

1. An apparatus for guiding a golf club head in practice swings, comprising a support, a universal joint fixed thereto at shoulder height of a player, a guide member composed of a rod having a portion of major length suspended from said joint and a minor portion pivotally suspended from said major portion and extending to a level adjacent that at which the club head is to engage a golf ball, a universal joint carried on the lower end of said minor portion of the arm having a part adapted for attachment to a golf club head.

2. An apparatus for guiding a golf club head in practice swings, comprising a support, a universal joint fixed thereto at shoulder height of a player, a guide member composed of a rod having a portion of major length suspended from said joint and a minor portion pivotally suspended from said major portion and extending to a level adjacent that at which the club head is to engage a golf ball and movable through a smaller arc, and a sleeve on said rods for rendering their jointed connection inoperative so that the combined portions will swing through a circle of greater diameter, a universal joint carried on the lower end of said minor portion of the arm havin a part adapted for attachment to a golf club head.

3. A device for practicing golf strokes comprising a support mounted substantially at shoulder height, a rod suspended from the support and connected thereto for universal swinging movement, and a universal joint connection between the lower end of said rod and the toe portion of the head of a golf club serving to direct said head through an arcuate path when the club is swung in simulation of a driving stroke.

SAMUEL ALEXANDER MILLNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,340,793 Chapman Feb. 1, 

